AP-IL--Illinois News Coverage Advisory 8:30 am, IL

May 16, 2018

Here’s a look at how AP’s general news coverage is shaping up in Illinois at 8:30 a.m. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the AP-Chicago bureau at 312-781-0500 or chifax@ap.org. Tom Davies is on the desk, followed by Herbert McCann. A reminder this information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Central.

UPCOMING TODAY:

PEACE WARRIORS

CHICAGO — At his desk at North Lawndale College Prep High School, Gerald Smith keeps a small calendar that holds unimaginable grief. In its pages, the dean and student advocate writes the name of each student who’s lost a family member, many of them to gun violence. And then he deploys the Peace Warriors — students who have dedicated themselves to easing the violence that pervades their world. Since September, Smith has added more than 160 names to that little book, roughly half the student body at this campus on Chicago’s West Side. And that doesn’t even include those whose friends have been killed. By Martha Irvine. SENT: 1,400 words, photos, video.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTS-UNION

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers are considering whether graduate-student researchers can form unions. The House Labor & Commerce Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday to continue discussing a measure allowing all graduate students to collectively bargain. State law says students who work as teaching assistants can unionize but not those who work as research assistants. SENT: 110 words. Will be updated from 3 p.m. CDT hearing.

IN BRIEF:

— TRUMP-JUDGE SCOLDING: A U.S. district judge who scolded Donald Trump as he testified in a 2013 civil trial on the sale of condos at Chicago Trump Tower has been confirmed for a seat on the Chicago-based 7th U.S. District Court of Appeals. That scolding didn’t stop now-President Trump from nominating Amy St. Eve in February.

— ILLINOIS TOURISM: Illinois saw a record-number of visitors last year. Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office says that nearly 114 million people visited the state, breaking the previous record set in 2016 by more than a million visitors.

— PULLMAN-NATIONAL MONUMENT: Some residents of Chicago’s historic Pullman neighborhood are expressing concerns over plans to construct loft apartments and working space for artists. Those opposed to the proposed Pullman Artspace Lofts say the building’s design clashes with the look, feel and history of a neighborhood known for uniform brick row homes.

— CHICAGO SCHOOLS-SCIENCE LABS: Chicago officials say $75 million will be spent over three years to renovate science laboratories in 82 public high schools.

— DUBUQUE NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING: A man accused of shooting into a Dubuque nightclub has pleaded guilty to a federal charge. Ricardo Sanchez, of Chicago, entered the plea Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cedar Rapids.

— INDIANA JAIL-CONTRACT: A county in northwestern Indiana has ratified a jail contract that seeks to curb turnover and overtime among corrections officers. The labor contract between Lake County government and the union for corrections officers boosts the jail staff’s pay by nearly 7 percent per corrections officer.

SPORTS:

BBN--CUBS-BRAVES

ATLANTA — Chicago’s Tyler Chatwood is scheduled to face Atlanta’s Brandon McCarthy on Wednesday night when the Cubs and NL East-leading Braves continue their series at SunTrust Park. By Charles Odum. UPCOMING: 650 words, photos. Game time 6:35 p.m. CT

BBO--WHITE SOX-PIRATES

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago White Sox finish up a two-game interleague series on Wednesday. UPCOMING: 700 words, photos. Game time 11:35 a.m. CT

FBN--BEARS-DEFENSE

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Bears added linebackers in free agency and the draft to a defense that ranked 10th in the league last year, but the problem they face is whether they did enough. The start of organized team activities this week gave more of an indication of where they stand. UPCOMING: 600 words.

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